Cover latch for automobile baggage compartments



Feb. M, 1956 R. L. STEVENSON COVER LATCH FOR AUTOMOBILE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 1, 1948 INVEN TOR, Waite/7i Jfaw/zsa/z BY ltilrilllrllfdl will! If! A o I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'III /M, y fizVa/wey Feb. M, 1950 a. L. STEVENSON COVER LATCH FOR AUTOMOBILE BAGGAGE CQMPARTMENTS Filed Nov. 1, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, Paer/ .Z. Vera/2mm Patented Feb. 14, 1950 COVER LATCH FOR AUTOMOBILE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENTS Robert Louis Stevenson, Overland Park, Kans.

Application November 1, 1948, Serial No. 57,697

8 Claims. (o1. 217-60) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cover latches for automobile baggage compartments, and relates particularly to latches for securing automobile baggage compartment covers in the open position.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a cover latch of the class described adapted to be positioned entirely outside of the baggage compartment, thereby increasing the usable space within said compartment. Latches in common use are disposed within the baggage compartment and occupy a portion thereof, thereby decreasing the usable space therein.

'- Another object is the provision of a cover latch of the class described wherein the parts thereof are firmly secured against rattling when in the inoperative position.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease and dependability of operation, and beauty of apperance.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects, which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of an automobile, showing a baggage compartment cover latch embodying the present invention attached thereto.

'Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of the rearward portion of the automobile, showing the baggage compartment cover, latch, and associated parts.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 2, with the cover closed.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 2 with'the cover closed.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line V-V of Fig. 2 with the cover closed.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to an automobile having a body 4 enclosing within its rearward portion the usual baggage compartment 6. Said baggage compartment is accessible through an opening 8 formed in the body, and said opening is provided with a cover, or lid l0, connected at its forward edge with body 4 by means of hinges l2. Adjacent its rearward edge, which is usually downwardly curved, cover I I! is provided with a lock mechanism l4 adapted to engage a keeper l6 carried by car body 4 at the rearward edge of opening 8, thereby securing said cover in its closed position. Said lock mechanism may be of any suitable type in common use, and is therefore not'shown here in detail.

The latch for securing cover In in the open position includes an arm l8 formed preferably of sheet metal and having in cross-section a substantially inverted U-form, as best shown in Fig. 5, thus presenting side walls 20. Forming the arm in this manner provides good strength and rigidity with a minimum of weight, and provides a hollow interior within which the latch parts are normally concealed. Said arm is disposed longitudinally of the automobile, and is adapted to overlie the outer surface of cover It! and the surface of car body 4 immediately forward of said cover, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Said arm is provided at its rearward end with a downward extension 22, and the lower edges of side walls 20 are shaped to conform with the contour of the cover and adjacent portion of the car body, and are provided with inwardly turned. flanges 24 to provide broad contact therewith.

At its forward end arm I8 is pivotally connected. by a pin 26 to a bracket 28 for movement in a vertical plane. Said bracket is fixed by means of bolts 30 to car body 4 in forwardly spaced relation from'the axis of hinges l2 and adjacent the inclined portion 32 of body 4 which carries the usual rear window 34. Said bracket is unitary and comprises a plate 36 adapted to lie against body 4 and be secured thereto by bolts 30, an inclined plate 38 parallel to body portion 32, and rearwardly turned flanges 40 along the edges of inclined portion 38. against the inner surfaces of side walls 20 of arm l8, thus tending to seal the open forward end of arm is against the entry of Water. Pivot pin 28 passes through flanges 40 adjacent their upper ends, and through side walls 20. The forward edges 42 of side walls 20 are shaped to conform to car body portion 32 when said arm is lowered, thus presenting a neat appearance. A reinforcing plate 3| may be placed against the inner surface of body 4 to receive bolts 30. A latch bar 44 extends transversely between side walls 20 of arm I8, being welded or otherwise fixed to flanges 24 of said side walls. As shown in Figs. 2

and 3, said latch bar is disposed substantially Arm i8 is engaged and moved by an operating 2 rod 46 carried by cover I ll. As best shown in Fig. 2, said rod is secured at its forward end to the outer surface of cover l0 just forwardly of the position taken by latch bar 44 when arm l8 Said flanges fit slidably is lowered by means of bolt 48, and is adapted to cealed by a hollow arm, which may be externally contact the inclined rearward face of said latch shaped to blend with and further enhance the bar as shown in dotted lines. Rod 46 extends artistic design of the automobile. The specific upwardly and rearwardly to form an arcuate guide shape of arm I8 is of course immaterial so long portion 50. Adjacent the rearward end of said 5 as it will contain rod 46 and has a pivot properly guide portion, a. portion of said rod is offset inpositioned relative to the cover hinges. Ordiwardly to form a notch 52, and from thence por narily it is deemed preferable that said arm tion 54 of said rod extends forwardly and downshould have a rounded, streamlined appearance wardly being secured at;.its lowerend to; cover. In aeshown; Also the latchmay'easily-be adapted by meansof bolt 56. Portion 54- is adapted to 10 to-fit-virtually any automobile'bodytypehaving a engage the upper surface of a leaf spring 58 rear luggage compartment. It is contemplated secured to the inner surface of the downward that these and other minor variations of conprojecting 22 of arm l8 by rivets Ellen other suit-- strnctionand. operation could be made without able means, and to compress said spring tourge' departing from the spirit of the invention. arm l8 firmly against cover l0. Operating rod 46 5 What I claim is: is sufficiently heavy to be substantially rigid, and 1 The combination, with an automobile having lies entirely in a vertical plane, whereby, it. is ahluggage compartment and a cover for said lugadapted to project into arm l8 through the open gage compartment hingeably secured to the body side thereof. ofsaid automobile, of a latch for securing said The operation of the latch is substantially as cover in the open position comprising a member follows: With thecover |0-elosed as: shown in having an:outwardlympeningnotchformed theredottedxlinesinsE'ig. 2, loclcmechanism. l4,-is.rein, fixed; tothe outen surface of said cover. in, leased and the coveris raisedzin.the;usual:manner;. spaced relation'fromthe pivotal axis :thereof, and. Since hinges I2 supportingthe'cover"and. pivot 'a. latch bar; carried: for pivotal movement by, pin 26.- carrying; arm P8; are horizontally spaced said automobile body. about an axisispaced-oppoapart latchbar 44\and;op erating rod;46: move in.,, sitely; rom said:,cover.'axis and. parallelthereto, converging arcaasr shown by/the directionallines; whereby as-saidcover and-latchebar are pivotally. in Fig. 2, and'latchbarrflvmoves upwardly and; raised; said-latch barand.notehedzmember moverearwardly along; guide? portion; 50- oi: operating; in; converging arcs andsaid: latch. bar will; be.- rod 46, andzarm; l8;isapivoted,upwardly-thereby. ;.engagedinsaidnotch. Since: guide 5&- curves, away; from cover; l0; a 2; Thezcombination,withanautomobile having; quick separation. of arml8; from the, cover" is: aluggage compartment-anda-generallyupwardly, thus effected, Whichmermits, the -cover and arm; opening cover for said. luggage compartment. to pivot freely without? interference with; each; hingeably secured to the body of said automobile, other.. It willbe noted-thatdownward extensiom 33g of a. latch; for securing said; cover in. the: open 22. of arm la does-not extend;so,-fanaround the: position; comprising a memberhaving; an out'-- downwardcurve; of cover llkas-tocause any bind.- war dlyopening-notchiormed therein'fixedto the.- ing therebetweenasrathe'opening; motionisstarted; outer surface of said cover in spacedrelation from: When cover Illhas been, opened fart-enough, tor the pivotal-axis thereotand a-.latch:bar carried bringlatch bar-.44.;even.with n tch'ilofoperating Uzfor pivotal movement. by saidautomobile body rod 46, arm- I8 will.drop;by rgravitytogmovo said; about an axis spaced oppositely: from said cover latch bar intosaid notch. Cover l0; mayrthenz axis and'parallehthereto, whereby as saidrcover be-released, anclas said cover and-arms. lflzllivot; andilatch;ban-arerpivotally=raised; said-latchbar slightlydownwardly-1bysgravityelatch-bar 44.:willand= notched. member move-in converging; arcs; be moved toward 1 the; forward; end. ofnotchi 52; and said latch bar will drop into said-notch bythe-inclined. forward: face thereof enga ing: the; ravity. correspondingly inclined fonwardportlomof; saidi 3.- The combination; with an automobile having, notch to prevent accidental. disengagement: of: aluggage compartment-anda generally-upwardly said bar from'saidvnotch. Ifs'it.isattemptedito; opening; cover for; said luggage compartment open the cover still farther, operatingvbanM-will; 507 hingeablysecuredyto thebody ofvsaid'automobile;

strike rod- 4ii attherrearwardendof notch-.52; of, a latchfor securing saidcoverin the. open The cover is then-firmly latchedinvthe open posi position comprising;v an. operatingmember fixed; tion; as shown-insolid lines in Fig.2! to the outcry surface of said: cover, in spaced Whenitisdesirecl.to -close-rtheeoven,thecoverr relation to, thepivotal axis; of saidcover, said. is first pivotedupwardly slightly to; disengage:- 55 operating memberrhavinga suriace-inclinedoutthe inclined= forward faces; of latchbar; 44 andz wardly; from the: surface of said cover. in thc= notch. 52, and arm l8 is;thenipivoted: slightly: direetion ofi the'free-edge; of; said. cover.- and a upwardly to moversaid-latch har-onhofisaid-notch: notch formed. at the-- outer end of said incline; saidtcover and said-arm may; them-.bespivotedz. andradatch-ban-carried forwpivotal-movement' by downwardly togethenlatch bar 44 ,ridingrslidably; 60.:saidautomobile rbody; about; an; axisparallel. to: alongrguidev portion 551:- of; rod; 46. As the,;cover: andspaced-apart from'saidicoveraxis;said-latch approaches its. closedposition,1 portionq54-of frod; bar being adapted to contactzsa-id operating mem- 46.wi11 contact the upper surfacezof string; 58:. her adiaeentthe-lower-end'ofthe inclined portion: and during the final olosinggmovementt ofrsaidi thereofz-when-sa-idcover-is-closed:wherebyas said cover said springwill be compressed; thuaurging: wiicoveris. raised. saidlatch; bar: will. bev moved: arm-E8 firmlyagainst-cover lo -tozpreventzrattling slidably, upwardly; along the: inclined: operating:

or vibration. member.-and--,will drop into the notchethereof-by:

Thus a cover latch having; several) advantages: e a 'i m has been produced lttissextremely simplerim 4. Thecombination,witlranautomobile havingconstruction and operation, and therefore:notamaailuggage compartment andsaagenerally upwardly likely to get out-oforde-r. It gisdisnosed entirely opening: cover: fcrrsaid compartment. hingeably outside of;the-luggagecompartmenhoi-the auto secured at. itssiorwardredge;to;the"body ofsaidmobile, thereby permitting; effectivenusev of thee automobile mofia-latch fornsecuring'saidicover in entire-volume of: said compartment. AllzOfi-j the;- thelopempositionnomprlsing a'hollow arm pivoted -Parts: arernorm lbfi;co fiainediim ndzcone (Seat its forward end to said automobile body ln spaced relation to the pivotal axis of said cover, for movement about an axis parallel to said cover axis, said arm being adapted to overlie a portion of the outer surface of said cover and having its lower side open; a latch bar carried rigidly in said arm in rearwardly spaced relation from said cover axis; and an operating member fixed to the outer surface of said cover and normally projecting into said hollow arm, said operating member having a surface inclined outwardly from said cover toward the free edge of said cover and having a notch formed at the outer end of said inclined portion, said latch bar being so positioned as to contact the inclined portion of said operating member adjacent the lower end thereof when said cover is closed.

5. The combination, with an automobile having a lug age compartment and a generally upwardly opening cover for said compartment hingeably secured at its forward edge to the body of said automobile, of a latch for securing said cover in the open position comprising an arm pivoted at its forward end to said automobile body in forwardly spaced relation to the pivotal axis of said cover for movement about an axis parallel to said cover axis, said arm being adapted to overlie a portion of the outer surface of said cover and shaped to conform with the contours thereof; a transverse latch bar carried by said arm intermediate its ends; an operating member fixed to said cover and having a notch formed therein adapted to lie engaged by said latch bar when said cover is raised; and means for resiliently urging said arm against said cover when said cover is closed.

6. The combination, with an automobile having a luggage compartment and a generally upwardly opening cover for said compartment hingeably secured at its forward edge to the body of said automobile, of a latch for securing said cover in the open position comprising an arm pivoted at its forward end to said automobile body in forwardly spaced relation to the pivotal axis of said cover for movement about an axis parallel to said cover axis, said arm being adapted to overlie a portion of the outer surface of said cover and shaped to conform with the contours thereof; a transverse latch bar carried by said arm intermediate its ends; an operating member fixed to said cover and having a notch formed therein adapted to lie engaged by said latch bar when said cover is raised; a spring carried by said arm adjacent the outer end thereof; and a member carried by said cover and adapted to contact and compress said spring as said cover is moved to its closed position, whereby said arm is firmly urged against said cover. 7

7. The combination, with an automobile having a luggage compartment and a generally upwardly opening cover for said compartment hingeably secured at its forward edge to the body of said automobile, of a latch for securing said cover in the open position comprising an arm pivoted at its forward end to said automobile body in forwardly spaced relation to the pivotal axis of said cover for movement about an axis parallel to said cover axis, said arm being adapted to overlie a portion of the outer surface of said cover and shaped to conform with the contours thereof, a transverse latch bar carried by said arm intermediate its ends, and normally spaced rearwardly from said cover axis; an operating member secured to said cover, said operating member comprising a length of rigid material secured at its ends to said cover and shaped to present an arcuate guide portion inclined outwardly and rearwardl from said cover, a notch at the rearward end of said guide portion, and a spring-actuating portion inclined downwardly and forwardly from the rearward end of said notch, said latch bar contacting said guide portion adjacent the forward end thereof when said cover is closed; and a spring carried by said arm adjacent its free end and adapted to be contacted and downwardly compressed by the spring-actuating portion of said operating member as said cover is closed.

8. The combination with an automobile having a luggage compartment and a generally upwardly opening cover for said compartment hingeably secured at its forward edge to the body of said automobile, of a latch for securing said cover in the open position comprising a hollow arm pivoted at its forward end to said automobile body in spaced relation to the pivotal axis of said cover, for movement about an axis parallel to said cover axis, said arm being adapted to overlie a portion of the outer surface of said cover and having its lower side open; a latch bar carried rigidly in said arm in rearwardly spaced relation from said cover axis; an operating member fixed to the outer surface of said cover and normally projecting into said hollow arm, said operating member comprising a length of rigid material secured at its ends to said cover and shaped to present an arcuate guide portion inclined outwardly and rearwardly from said cover, a notch at the rearward end of said guide portion, and a spring-actuating portion inclined downwardly and forwardly from the rearward end of said notch, said latch bar contacting said guide portion adjacent the forward end thereof when said cover is closed; and a spring fixed to the inner surface of said arm adjacent its free end and adapted to be contacted and downwardly compressed by the spring-actuating portion of said operating member as said cover is closed.

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.

No references cited. 

